The morning after his showdown with the bullies, Mikey walked through the school halls with a new confidence. Whispers followed him, some curious, some admiring.
At his locker, he noticed a girl watching him—short, sharp-eyed, carrying a notebook filled with sketches of fighting stances.
"You're Mikey Brown, right?" she asked. "I saw what you did yesterday. Impressive."
Mikey blinked, surprised. "Uh… thanks."
"I'm Hana," she said, flipping open her notebook. "I study martial arts in my free time. Maybe I can help you think through your fights strategically."
Mikey hesitated, then nodded. Maybe… allies aren't such a bad idea.
Meanwhile, Jin appeared in the gym later that day, stretching casually.
"Still thinking about yesterday?" he smirked. "You've got potential, but don't get cocky. I'll still kick your ass next time."
Mikey clenched his fists, feeling the familiar fire ignite. "I'll be ready. And I'm not alone anymore."
Marcus grinned from across the gym. "Good. You need both brains and brawn. Hana can help with strategy, Jin can push your limits, and I'll make sure your fists—and your heart—are ready for anything."
[Training Intensifies]
Mikey's days blurred into a whirlwind of punches, kicks, footwork drills, and sparring.
Marcus forced him through endurance runs, tire drills, and shadowboxing.
Jin sparred with him daily, testing Mikey's adaptability against a real Taekwondo opponent.
Hana analyzed his movements, suggesting angles, combinations, and timing adjustments.
Every evening, Mikey collapsed in exhaustion, yet something inside him kept growing—a mixture of strength, strategy, and confidence.
I'm not the scared kid anymore. I'm building something bigger than myself.
[A New Goal Emerges]
One afternoon, Marcus leaned over Mikey, sweat dripping from both of them.
"City Martial Arts Tournament is coming up," Marcus said. "You need a target. Something to measure your growth."
Mikey's eyes widened. A real tournament… fighting others like Jin? Other styles?
"Yeah… I want to do it," he said firmly. "I want to see how far I've come. And I'll make sure I'm ready for whatever comes next."
Jin nodded, stretching. "Good. You'll need more than heart for that. You'll need skill. Let's make sure you don't embarrass yourself."
Mikey smirked, fists raised. "Then let's start."
The fire inside him burned brighter than ever, ready to face the challenges ahead.